U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power
Fifth Edition
Video and Multimedia
Learning Objective 4.1: Discuss how the powers and constrains of the Constitution influence the president’s role in foreign policy.
Video
- Bush declares war on terror
- Summary: President George W. Bush’s September 20, 2001 speech to Congress in which the first use of the phrase “War on Terror” is documented.
- Cheney’s law
- Summary: The Frontline documentary “Cheney’s Law” about Vice President Dick Cheney’s work to expand presidential war powers.
Web Resources
- Presidential war powers
- Summary: A selection of quotes from several “Founding Fathers” on the powers of the office of President.
- Lincoln war powers
- Summary: A page describing President Abraham Lincoln’s use and misuse of presidential powers.
Learning Objective 4.2: Identify the ways that presidential prerogative is evident in three areas of U.S. foreign policy.
Web Resources
- 2011 Libyan conflict
- Summary: An article describing some of the U.S. decisions in the 2011 Libyan civil war, including the decision to not use ground forces.
- Unlawful enemy combatants
- Summary: An executive order from President George W. Bush defining persons who may be subject to military tribunals.
- Ending coercive interrogations
- Summary: An executive order from President Barack Obama regarding treatment of military detainees and contingent intelligence gathering.
- Obama and soft power
- Summary: An article criticizing the Obama Administration for utilizing hard power while emphasizing the rhetoric of soft power
Learning Objective 4.3: Describe the White House centered structure of foreign policy decision-making and how it has changed over time.
Video
- The Indomitable Theodore Roosevelt
- Summary: A short video discussing President Theodore Roosevelt’s role in fighting industrial monopolists and in the construction of the Panama Canal.
Web Resources
- Detainees, Guantanamo
- Summary: An interactive tool documenting the prison population at Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba
- Obama and Libya
- Summary: A U.N. Security Council resolution instating a no-fly zone, arms embargo, and asset freeze in Libya as well as authorizing use of force to protect civilians
- The real Jimmy Carter?
- Summary: An article describing President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy as more successful than it is generally regarded
- Obama and unmanned drones
- Summary: An infographic depicting strikes by UAVs under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia
- Contrasting Clinton and Obama
- Summary: A short article containing some of former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers description of the operation and management styles of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Learning Objective 4.4: Explain the role of the judicial branch on U.S. foreign policy.
Video
- Abu Ghraib prison
- Summary: A 60-Minutes segment on the abuse of Iraqi prisoners of war at Abu Ghraib prison.